Carpal Tunnel Surgery Recovery Time

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a health problem which is now being seen more frequently across the world. It is basically a repeated pain in the wrist, which in more serious situations can render you completely unfit to perform even your most basic daily tasks.

It is basically a nerve disorder and is mostly caused due to a variety of related factors, ranging from diabetes, osteoarthritis, hypothyroidism, and rheumatoid arthritis. And, given that one of the best ways of getting rid of this syndrome is through a carpal tunnel surgery, the recovery time is an important factor that you should be aware of.

➜ Carpal tunnel surgery is good enough to ward off the trouble of a carpal tunnel syndrome for a long time. But, one has to keep in mind that the surgery is not advisable for those with a less serious carpal tunnel problem, but only those with a moderate to severe problem should opt for it.

➜ The time for recovery after the surgery is a prolonged one and any surgery is a pretty serious matter. Hence, before taking the decision to undergo the surgical procedure, it makes sense to check with your doctor if there is an alternative to the surgery.

But, generally, you ought to go for the surgical procedure in the following cases:

• The carpal tunnel symptoms have bothered you for more than 10 months
• Continued numbness
• Muscles located in the base of the palm start to shrink
• Occurrence of symptoms within 30 seconds of the Phalen's test

The other options you and your doctor could explore as alternatives to the surgery include splints, anti-inflammatory agents, and physical therapy for strengthening the muscles.

There are 2 main types of carpal tunnel surgery and they basically differ on the size of the incision, the extent of the syndrome, and the recovery time.

The open release surgery is a pretty straightforward procedure that involves making an incision on the hand, and the carpal ligament is cut free from the median nerve. This type of surgery requires a pretty long incision across the palm and wrist. The time required to heal is quite a lot in this case.

It takes about 2 weeks to be able to operate your hands normally. For the first month, after the surgery, you will need constant help of someone to help you go about your daily routine. It takes about 10 months to be able to use your hands the way you could prior to the surgery.

In this type of surgery, a couple of pretty small incisions are made on the wrist and palm. The surgeon then inserts an endoscope and tries to see the extent of the problem before cutting the carpal ligament free from the median nerve.

The surgery is reportedly a lot less painful and recovery time is also quite less. It takes about a week to regain the basic motor skills in the wrist.

Carpal tunnel surgery recovery takes a whole lot of physiotherapy post the surgery so that the muscles around the wrist may regain their strength faster. Hence, while the time to heal completely can take about 10 months, with proper care and by performing physiotherapist-approved exercises after the surgery, it can be reduced as well.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.